I have three art-related passions: drawing meditatively with Zentangle patterns, playing with Celtic Knot designs, and making fun and useful drawing journals.
Marvelous Mandala Stories
I recently had the privilege of introducing a summer-long series of classes on drawing mandalas. As I began researching and playing with designs, I discovered that mandalas have a rich history across time and cultures. The style used, designs and colors all impact the artist in different ways.
Mandalas seem to be universal designs in art and religion. As an example, I found that the Navajo and Tibetan cultures drew similar types of mandalas using both a circle and square to form the design. They also used beautiful natural colors from their part of the world.
Dancing with Nature's Muse
I recently attended an amazing art retreat at Big Bear City in Southern California. The organizers of the retreat, Sharla Hicks and Beckah Karula sure know how to grow a budding artis't’s skills! I learned about new tools and techniques, was challenged to “push the darks farther”, and hung out with amazing friends for ten days high in the Southern California deset. What an amazing experience!